May 2011 Radiation

Bambi,

I'm hypothyroid and two RO's said Rads (even when it doesn't hit the thyroid) will usually take the thyroid out...I don't know if that's true...but for me it will be...that's just how I roll.

Anyway, I am taking a kelp tablet with iodine in it to try and keep my thyroid from sucking up any extra radiation ... maybe that could help you....

My throat hurts though..is scratchy

TonLee - I agree with you.  I am finding rads to be the most annoying part of this whole process and I haven't even started yet.  LOL  I'm also terrified that the tx will jack up the beautiful work my PS did on the reconstruction. 

Julie H - If I understand the process correctly the radiation travels in beams.  It will enter your body at one point and exit it another.  At least, I think that's the way the RO explained it to me.

ProudMom - I had my first follow-up appt. with the PS today and he didn't mention massaging the implants.  He told me to continue to wear the push-down harness for the next week, but then to ditch it once rads start because it would irritate the skin too much.  I go back to see him in 4 weeks to see how the recon is holding up.

Tammy

my RO gave me something called Dermaplex gel with Hyaluronic acid. I like it. it's just like a lotion, goes on easy, dries quickly and soothing. i use that with aloe gel. it's made specifically for radiation and burns.

so far i haven't had to buy any aquaphor. but this is only week 2 for me.. we will see what happens in the next couple weeks!

plus, some nice cotton sports bras are nice! (i'm a 36 b)

baf4292-That is a good idea about the extender.It IS hard to tell which part of it all is making you tired. And for you dealing with it since Oct, that is a long time! I have a question that just confuses me, did you have to do chemo because you were triple neg? did you have an oncotype score? Sometimes i look at peoples diagnosis, and i wonder why some had to have chemo or a mastectomy and others did not?

So....i noticed i am a little pink tonight!!! SUPER!! only 2 treatments so far. I hope it just stays like this and does not get worse. I used aquaphor this morning at 8 after my shower, and my treatment was at 3, i didn't wash it off, do you think that is bad? The techs just said nothing 4 hours before??

edited to add: TonLee-you crack me up!!

I had 6/35 today.  The bolus is being taped to me too, but they are not touching my skin with the tape....they put the gown under it, then tape it.  Everything looks good so far, no redness.  I'm using Aquafor and Aloe gel.  I've used Tom's for years now and I think it's great.  I'm not using anything right now and definitely not shaving.....nothing to shave.....all the chemo I've had since last October has made it hard for any hair to grow anywhere on my bod!

Question Ladies, Has anyone done the 16 rads (instead of 28) with a little higher rad power?? My RO thinks that would make it easier on me so I wouldn't have to drive so much.

Gmafoley and isee  I was never given the option for less sessions.  I drive and hr. each way and the gas is killing me.  Maybe they dont think a 2 hr round trip is an inconvenience.  I told them yesterday that this was my new job but the pay sucks.

Tonlee.. funny about the mushroom cloud, hope I can see it through all the rain!  I thought I could smell something cooking during the radiation....hmmmmm....bacon?

TonLee, I see the RO once a week.  The techs macrowave me.

I see the RO once  aweek and today was the day.  Nothing new today.  I am eating my words about the gas, they must of heard me gripe cause I saw a social worker today and she gave me a gas card for 50$. says she will check in on me every week to see what I need

I see my RO once a week also. So #3 done today...pink skin and underarm, side of breast near underarm and nipple are sore, like sore to touch or press on!! Is the normal? I am hoping it just doesn't get a lot worse.

TonLee-i saw that about the tank under a bra also, good idea!

I was telling the techs today that I was pink and sore already after #2, they just kinda nodded at me and didn't say much! Do you think they just hear so much during the day that it kind of goes in one ear and out the other? It's a little frustrating to me , since, ya know i am kinda NEW at this and really am scared of the pain and continuing to do it day after day!!!!! grrrrr

Well for those of us who started this week, we are over halfway through our first week!! (thats my positive note for the day!)

Bambi,

Let me know what he says.  My endo said rads will affect the thyroid, if directly hit then the effects come right away, if not directly in the line of fire, usually within the first year after rads TSH will start getting wonky (high). 

But I'm on Tamox too, so he'll have to do a bunch of diff tests I think....

Mom3,

I don't think they care for the most part....my RO techs are the least educated of all my medical staff..they've literally been trained how to operate the equipment and that's it.  Kind of like working in a factory...

Mine are nice, and they don't offer any information beyond their training...which is to say..except to tell me where to lay they don't offer anything at all...they always refer me to the RO.  This appears as if they don't care, but now that I think about it...they're doing the right thing...I've met women who work with radiation oncologists who are know-it-alls and have no credentials in anything, or in a single thing, but try to be masters of it all....lol.

3/30 down...and $0 out of 3 scratchers so far!  This process reminds me daily that I have cancer and them asking me for my name and birthdate reminds me that I'm now 50...insult to injury! lol

Does anyone else find the tug and pull to get you into position a little disconcerting? Seems very unscientific to me! Even though they check marks on my chest, sometimes it feels like they've pushed me around into unnatural positions and called me good to go! Hmmmm....

I definitely feel some changes but they're just...odd feelings as opposed to pain or anything specific.  I only see the RO once a week and I've not seen him since my original orientation so far! Evidently Monday will be the first...seems strange he hasn't been more active in my care as I got started!

Ok all, does starting Rads on May 31st count as May or June LOL?  -I had my simulation and my tatoos today and I am having 28 treatments instead of 16   But we made a mutual decision and the radiology oncologist had a good point. Even though my sentinal node was micromatases and was disected he wants to radiate the area.

So work in the mornings and rads (5 days a week) in the afternoon.. I need every ones love and prayers sent my way.. Praise God: at least I don't need CHEMO!

I'm going to pay more attention now to what you all are saying - which page do I go back to to see the scratcher idea?

ftblmom3 - You guessed right...in spite of being stage 1 and all clear nodes, the triple negative/grade 3 part trumps everything else with respect to chemo. 

tinaj - I have felt the same way about the little tugs they give you before saying "perfect"...doesn't seem very exact! 

ewa-swimmer-did they give you the option of laying on your stomach or is it due to position of tumor? That was never even suggested to me, though I had one positive lymph node, so i don't know if that has anything to do with it? It is amazing to me how many have different procedures and treatments!

GmaFoley-i say you stay with us awesome May rads people!! LOL good luck with it! I also had just a small amount in one lymphnode, and they took out 8, the RO feels there is no more affected nodes but is radiating there just in case!! The waiting is the worse! I couldn't wait to finally get the radiation started!!!